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LGBTI EQUALITY MANIFESTO 2019
SNP LGBTI EQUALITY MANIFESTO 2019
This election is a crucial vote for Scotland
that will determine our future. We are at a
crossroads - with two very different paths
ahead of us.
Scotland can vote SNP to beat the Tories,
escape Brexit and have a choice over our
future - or we can have it dictated to us by Boris
Johnson, who wants to drag Scotland out of
the EU against our will and threatens our rights,
society and economy.
The SNP is committed to protecting Scotland’s
future and securing full equality for LGBTI
people. Equality and human rights are
fundamental to our values as a progressive
social democratic party - and we have a proud
record of advancing and championing LGBTI
rights.
Under the SNP government, Scotland has
become the best country in the UK and one of
the best in the world for LGBTI equality. We have
delivered wholesale reform, including the most
progressive equal marriage, hate crime and
Turing laws in the UK, record funding for LGBTI
organisations, and becoming the first country
to commit to LGBTI inclusive education.
This manifesto sets out our commitments,
for the UK general election, to secure LGBTI
equality in those areas of responsibility that
remain reserved to Westminster.
A vote for the SNP on 12th December is a vote
to advance LGBTI equality, escape Brexit and
put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands - not
Boris Johnson’s. Together we can build a better,
fairer and more equal future for Scotland.
Nicola SturgeonFirst Minister
Scotland’s future in Scotland’s handsScotland’s membership of the EU, and our
place at the heart of Europe, has helped
advance LGBTI equality across Scotland,
Europe and the world - by sharing best practice,
collaborating for change and protecting our
fundamental rights.
Scotland didn’t vote for Brexit - but we have
been completely ignored by Westminster
and now find ourselves on the verge of being
dragged out of the EU against our will - inflicting
lasting harm on our rights, our society, living
standards, public services and the economy.
Brexit is bad news for LGBTI rights - reducing
cooperation, undermining protections, and
leaving LGBTI equality in the hands of an
increasingly right-wing Tory government, led by
a man who has used homophobic slurs and is in
step with Nigel Farage and Donald Trump.
A vote for the SNP is a vote to escape Brexit and
put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands - not
Boris Johnson’s. SNP MPs will work to stop
Brexit and ensure the people of Scotland have
a choice over our future - instead of having it
dictated to us by Westminster.
That choice will be a matter for the Scottish
people to decide - but independence offers
Scotland the opportunity to advance equality
- with LGBTI rights embedded in a written
constitution, with the full powers to improve
equality in the law and society, and with the
ability to champion LGBTI equality as an equal
partner on the world stage.
Devolve equality powersWhile Scotland is in the UK, SNP MPs will
continue to demand the full devolution of
equality, employment and immigration powers
so that the Scottish Parliament has the powers
to protect LGBTI equality and make Scotland a
fairer and more equal place to live.
Discrimination protectionsWhile equality law remains reserved to
Westminster, SNP MPs will press the UK
government to take action so that all LGBTI
people are fully protected from discrimination
and harassment, including multiple
discrimination.
Gender recognitionThe SNP government was the first in the UK to
commit to reforming gender recognition law
to secure equality and human rights for trans
people. A draft Gender Recognition (Scotland)
Bill will be published by the end of this year, with
a consultation on the detail of the legislation.
SNP MPs will press for Westminster to
recognise in reserved areas any changes to the
law in Scotland, and press for the same actions
to be taken at Westminster.
Non-binary recognitionSNP MPs will press the UK government to allow
non-binary people to record their gender as “X”
on passports and all other UK-wide records and
identity documents. The SNP government is
also establishing a non-binary working group to
consider changes to procedures and practice in
Scotland.
SNP PRIORITIES FOR LGBTI EQUALITY
Intersex equalitySNP MPs will press for intersex people and
organisations to be fully consulted on changes
to the law and policy to introduce effective
protections for intersex people’s human rights.
PrEPScotland was the first UK nation to approve the
provision of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by
the NHS to prevent HIV. SNP MPs will continue
to support efforts to improve the availability of
PrEP on the NHS in the rest of the UK too.
Turing LawThe SNP government introduced the Historical
Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards)
(Scotland) Act 2018, the UK’s most extensive
Turing Law, with a public apology by the First
Minister on behalf of the country. SNP MPs
will continue to press the UK government to
extend the scope of its legislation - so that it
also covers all the old discriminatory offences
and provides an automatic pardon to gay and
bisexual men who are still alive.
LGBTI conversion therapyThe SNP opposes LGBTI conversion therapy
practices, which are discriminatory and proven
to have a harmful effect on the mental health
and wellbeing of LGBTI people. SNP MPs will
press the UK government to reform laws and
regulations, which are reserved to Westminster,
to ban and prevent the practice of LGBTI
conversion therapy.
Protecting human rightsSNP MPs will oppose any attempt by the UK
government to roll-back equality and human
rights, including attempts to scrap the Human
Rights Act, withdraw from the European
Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or water-
down the Equality Act. We will demand human
rights protections are maintained at least in line
with evolving European standards.
AsylumWhile Asylum remains reserved to Westminster,
SNP MPs will press for reforms to ensure that
people forced to flee persecution because they
are LGBTI have access to asylum in the UK, are
not held in arbitrary detention, and are treated
in a fair manner with dignity and respect.
International rightsThe SNP will continue to champion the
advancement of LGBTI equality and human
rights around the world. While foreign affairs
remain reserved to Westminster, SNP MPs will
continue to press for the establishment of a
special envoy to promote the rights of LGBTI
people, and to make LGBTI equality an integral
part of UK foreign policy.
LeadershipThe SNP has a proud record of championing
equality for LGBTI people in government and
at Westminster. In the last Parliament we had
the highest proportion of LGBTI MPs of any
party and we hope to continue this record. A
vote for the SNP on 12th December is a vote to
advance LGBTI equality, escape Brexit, and put
Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.
LGBTI equality is a key priority for the SNP
government. Over the past 12 years we have
delivered wholesale reform and made huge
progress in areas devolved to the Scottish
Parliament.
Under the SNP, Scotland has become the best
country in the UK for LGBTI equality - and we
are also recognised as one of the best countries
in the world for LGBTI rights.
The SNP government has led the way in the
UK. We reformed sex laws and have delivered
the most progressive and extensive equal
marriage, LGBTI hate crime and Turing Laws.
We opened up adoption and IVF for same-sex
couples, we made Scotland the first country in
the UK to approve the provision of PrEP by the
NHS, we reformed blood donation rules, and
we are committed to ensuring LGBTI inclusive
education across Scotland.
Despite deep Tory-Lib Dem cuts to Scotland’s
budget, the SNP government has given
record funding to Scottish LGBTI equality
organisations, and we are driving forward
LGBTI equality in our public services and across
society.
The next steps in our mission to advance LGBTI
equality in Scotland include reforming gender
recognition laws and improving gender identity
services, further improving LGBTI hate crime
legislation, tackling bullying and abuse, and
making further progress for LGBTI equality in
key areas such as education, health, mental
health, policing, justice, sport and culture.
Scotland is now one of the best countries in the
world for LGBTI equality. Together we will make
it even better - and ensure Scotland’s future is
in Scotland’s hands.
LGBTI EQUALITY IN DEVOLVED AREAS
www.snp.org Promoted by Peter Murrell on behalf of the Scottish National Party, both at Gordon Lamb House, 3 Jackson’s Entry, Edinburgh, EH8 8PJ
Help us spread the word and get out the vote by visiting www.snp.org/general-election-2019
Be a voter on December 12 and #VoteSNP
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